Amalie looked at Deke out of the corner of her eye and smiled. “You make it sound so easy.”
“It is. You’ll see.”
“I have to check on the chicken. I’ll be back in a little while,” Amalie said before walking out of the barn and heading for the house.
~ * ~
Nate had been standing in the corner of the barn, listening and watching.
“That was a nice thing you did,” Nate told his brother. “Amalie has told me several times that she’s frightened of horses. I didn’t think you’d get her near any horse, including Honey.”
“Anyone can try to get over a fear. Some do, and some don’t—I suppose it depends on the situation. Now, are you ready to get back on Buck? He’s out in the corral.”
Nate shook his head. “I told you: I’m not getting back on any horse—ever. I don’t plan on staying. I’m going to head out next week and maybe go to Denver. I need to find city work and stay away from ranches.”
“I’ll hate to see you go. Do you have enough money to take care of you and Amalie?” Deke asked.
“What? Why would I take care of Amalie? She’s your wife,” Nate insisted.
“Only on paper. When I spoke to the judge about ways to get her out of whatever trouble you said she was in and he suggested a proxy marriage, he also said I could have it annulled at any time. All I have to do is ask, and he’ll sign the papers.”
“You can’t do that. I can’t protect her. If you annul the marriage, she loses the Sperling name.
Deke shrugged. “Then, you marry her.”
“That wouldn’t help. It’s not the Sperling name alone—it’s that she’s Deke Sperling’s wife. You have most of the country convinced that you’re some sort of unstoppable hero. Have you read the books they write about you?”
Deke rubbed his hand over his face. “Those books are full of half-truths and plain lies. I highly doubt that my name alone is enough to keep her safe. She left St. Louis a married woman—she’ll be safe anywhere else.”
“No, she won’t, and you know it. You know Rex Horrison’s reputation. If his men find her, they could take her back to St. Louis or kill her. It’s the fear of you that keeps her safe,” Nate insisted.
“If that’s true and you want to keep her safe, stay right here on the ranch. If not, leave, but she goes with you. I never asked for a wife, and I don’t need one,” Deke replied.
Both men heard a sudden intake of breath, and they turned to see Amalie standing, wide-eyed, in the barn’s entrance. She spun on her heels and ran back toward the house.
“You did it now,” Nate said.
Deke grumbled, “This is all your fault.”
“I’m not the one who just told his wife he didn’t want her.”
Deke kicked at an empty stall and confessed, “Yeah, you’re right, but I need your help to fix this somehow. I never intended to hurt her. If I was looking for a wife, she’d be perfect, but I’m not. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to accept the pain that might come from loving another woman.”
Nate clapped his brother on the back. “The first thing you do is apologize and maybe tell her what you just told me. She knew this was going to be difficult, but I don’t think she thought you would toss her away so easily.”
“Give me time to think. Maybe after supper.”
“If she still cooks us supper,” Nate uttered to himself.
Chapter Seven
The tension around the supper table in the Sperling house was palpable. Deke ate his supper as if he were starving, speaking only once when he took the time to mumble once that it was the best chicken and dumplings he’d ever eaten. Nate complimented Amalie several times, who just nodded and picked at her plate.
As soon as he was finished eating, Nate stood and said, “I have something to do out in the barn. I’ll be back in later for a piece of that pie I see cooling.” He disappeared faster than Deke thought he could move.
Deke swallowed and looked at Amalie. “I own you an apology. What you heard isn’t exactly what I meant.”
“You don’t need to explain. I know this isn’t what you wanted, and I’m an inconvenience. You can ask the judge for an annulment whenever you wish. I can find a job as a maid in any hotel in a larger city. I only ask that you pay for my travel there since I don’t have much money. I’ll pay you back as soon as I can,” Amalie said, and she stood to clear the table.
“Please, Amalie…sit. I want to talk to you and explain,” Deke said.
Amalie did as asked and stared at Deke as if waiting for him to say something—anything—that might make her feel like less of a burden.
“I need to explain what you heard,” Deke began.
“I heard all I needed to hear. I know you married me to offer me protection and convince Nate to come back home. You don’t need to explain further,” Amalie said before she stood to clean the kitchen.
“Amalie, please…sit back down. I want you to hear me out.”
“All right. I’ll listen,” Amalie said.
“First, after my apology, I want you to know that I won’t force you to leave or ask the judge for an annulment. I made the agreement, and I’ll stand by it. What I said to Nate was for his benefit. I’ve missed my brother, and I’ve found a way to keep him here.”
“You’re using me to keep Nate here,”
